Panayoti Kelaidis
Tuesday, January 21, 2024 – 7:00 pm Pacific Time (California)
Members and visitors can attend in person in San Francisco,
or register or join the meeting in progress on Zoom.
Program Description
Succulent lovers are so smitten with the extraordinary biodiversity of the Western Cape that they often neglect to visit the eastern parts of South Africa. I hope to show how wrong this is. Many of the South African plants seen in temperate gardens grow mostly in the eastern parts of the country: Agapanthus, Watsonia, Crocosmia and no end of Kniphofia are found primarily in eastern South Africa. Many genera of suculents (including Gasteria and Haworthia, Begeranthus and others) are far commoner and more diverse as you travel East in the country. This region receives most of its moisture in the summer, which often means the flower season is protracted, or often in late summer. South Africa’s highest mountain range, the Drakensberg, is found here, providing a wide range of habitats and elevations.
About our Speaker
Panayoti Kelaidis is the Senior Curator at the Denver Botanic Gardens, and also a board member of the American Horticultural Society. He is well known in the worlds of rock-gardening and succulent-growing, having made many plant introductions from around the world, especially from mountainous areas.
Show & tell table: Aloe on the succulent side, and Schlumbergera & Rhipsalis on the cactus side plus anything else that’s looking good or in flower.
Featured grower: TBA
Snack table:, There will be a shared spread, but we suggest bringing something every couple of months if you partake regularly. As a thought, we are often short on drinks.
Covid precautions: We will keep doors open to ensure adequate ventilation. This can make the room a bit chilly, so dress appropriately.
Meeting Agenda
7:00 Mingling and announcements
7:30 Formal presentation starts promptly with Society business
7:35 Show and Tell Table
7:50 Leg stretch
7:55 Featured presentation
Watch Online
On Zoom: Register or join the meeting in progress.
We will attempt to simulcast on our YouTube channel.
Upcoming Events
Special February meeting And Tour at the Ruth Bancroft Garden
Tuesday Feb 18, 4pm to 9pm
Check you Newsletter for details
Because our February meeting will be held at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, rather than our usual location in Golden Gate Park, we are notifying everyone in advance.
Our speaker will be Dean Kelch, botanist with the California Department of Agriculture and a past Director at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, speaking on “The History and Development of Cacti and Succulents in the Landscape”.
Prior to the meeting, we will have tours of the garden starting at 4 pm, with a break for dinner before the meeting. Please plan to bring something for dinner. February is peak season at RBG for aloes and for mesembs,so be ready for some Flower Power!
The garden is usually closed to the public on Tuesday, but for us the Nursery will be open from 5-6pm.
Admittance to the garden, tours, and the evening program are all free for attendees
Monthly Volunteer Day at The Gardens of Lake Merritt
Last Saturday of each month
10am – 2:30pm with a break for lunch at noon
666 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, CA
Monthly Volunteer Day at the Golden Gate Park “Arizona Garden“
Third Sunday of each month
10am – TBD
Next to the Conservatory of Flowers.
Upcoming Meetings
Meetings always occur on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
- February – Special Meeting at Ruth Bancroft Garden, no meeting at the County Fair Building
- March – TBA
- April – Peter Van Wyck from South Africa.